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Calls for ‘green stimulus’ for North as research reveals housing retrofits could create 77,000 jobs
Calls are being made for a housing retrofit programme for the North that would see all social housing decarbonised by 2030 and lead to the creation of 77,000 jobs.
A new report released today by IPPR North found that retrofitting homes in the North could create 77,000 jobs in the region, as well as a further 111,000 supply chain jobs across the UK, by 2035.
Jobs in retrofits, heat pumps and heat networks would be spread across the entire region with 37,000 (48%) in the North West, 25,000 (32%) in Yorkshire and the Humber and 15,000 (19%) in the North East.
A retrofitting programme in the North could also bring a £2.86bn boost to the region each year, as well as an annual £5.61m boost to supply chains across the UK.
As part of a wider housing retrofit programme, IPPR North is calling for all 1.27 million social homes in the North to be fully retrofitted by 2030.
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It estimates that this will require an investment of £2.36bn a year, of which at least half should be met by government grant funding, IPPR North said.
The report said retrofitting homes will be especially challenging in the North where almost one in four homes were built before 1919 and 44% were built before 1944.
A total of 1.35 million homes in the region fail to meet decent homes standards, while roughly 731,500 (more than 10%) households live in fuel poverty, the report added.
Marcus Johns, research fellow at IPPR North said: “Sixty-four councils and combined authorities in the North have declared a climate emergency, but the nation isn’t doing enough to meet our emissions commitments.
“In fact, if everyone in the world lived like the average UK citizen, we would need 2.5 planets’ worth of resources.
“Decarbonisation isn’t an option – it’s vital for our region, our country and our planet. Not only will it make a difference to the world we live in, but it could also help us to create high quality jobs in a healthier, greener, economically just North.
“As we approach an incredibly tough winter, during which time people living in fuel poverty and non-decent homes will be disproportionately affected, the time for government to invest in a green stimulus into the North is now. But make no mistake, failing to do so will result in further ‘levelling down’ of northern housing.”
A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: “We completely agree that retrofitting homes can have a positive impact on both jobs and the climate. So that’s exactly why we are investing £2bn in the Green Homes Grant scheme, helping with the costs of energy efficiency upgrades in 600,000 English homes so households can cut their bills and emissions.
“The scheme will support 100,000 jobs as we build back greener and we encourage tradespeople in the North to become accredited and registered to take part in the scheme.”
